Monday, May 25

The Monte Cristo Sandwich and Dwight Howard: Both Super

The two best things to come from Orlando, FL are not Walt Disney World and Sea World. They are Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic and the Monte Cristo sandwich.

Technically neither Howard nor the Monte Cristo is from Orlando. Howard was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Monte Cristo has roots in France. But both are currently popular in Orlando, and both are Mmm-mmm good.

Dwight Howard is the 6 foot 11 inch center of the Orlando Magic who was named the NBA's 2009 Defensive Player of the year.

A Monte Cristo consists of ham, turkey or chicken, and Swiss cheese sandwiched between two slices of white or challah bread that is dipped in an egg batter, then grilled or fried in butter until golden brown. It is often dusted with confectioners’ sugar and served with a side of red currant jelly.

The Monte Cristo is an American version of the Croque-Monsieur, the famed French grilled cheese and ham sandwich that is fried in clarified butter. The sandwich first appeared on the menu at Gordon’s, a restaurant on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, but it didn't get its big break until Disneyworld got involved. When the Blue Bayou Restaurant in the Pirates of the Caribbean put the Monte Cristo on its menu, its popularity soared.

I hadn't eaten a Monte Cristo since I was a kid, and I didn't remember particularly loving it. My, how things have changed. This sandwich has it all: it's sweet, salty, and chewy. It's addictive.

After all this talk about the Monte Cristo, I think I'll be making them for dinner tomorrow night while I watch Dwight play game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
Red currant jelly (or jelly of your choice), or sweet mustard on the side

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.

Butter both sides of each slice of bread.

Place 1 slice each of ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese on each slice of bread and close the sandwiches.

Melt butter in a griddle or large fry pan over medium-high heat.

One at a time, dip each sandwich into the egg-milk mixture allowing excess to drip into the bowl.

Place on the hot griddle or fry pan coated with butter, adding more as necessary. Fry for about 3 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown.

Cut each sandwich on the diagonal. Dust with confectioners’ sugar, and serve with a side of jelly or sweet mustard.

For a sweeter take, use egg bread and serve with dusted confectioners’ sugar, fruit jellies, and fresh fruit. For a savory version, use white or wheat bread, skip the confectioners’ sugar and fruit, and serve with a side of mayo or sweet mustard and some sliced pickles.

Shopping Note: Red currant jelly is widely available at supermarkets. Strawberry or mixed berry jelly make good substitutes.

Ding ding ding! That is one of my favorite (if not my favorite, probably next to the mighty cheeseburger) sandwich ever. I think it's the jam (though I've only ever eaten it with raspberry jam, yum). Looks like the Sandwich Field guide is shaping up to be a verrry delicious tour indeed! ;)

I would have pegged you as a Celtics fan ;) Love Monte Cristo's! Haven't made them in years, maybe it's time to remedy that. Being on the west coast you get to watch the games at dinner time. Some nights I have to get out the toothpicks to keep my eyes open and pray the games don't go into overtime.

I generally am not the biggest fan of sandwiches, but I always make an exception for a Monte Cristo...delicious! I also like them with mozzarella and nothing else, which I suppose makes it something othern than a Monte Cristo...

I discovered Monte Cristos late in life. I remember my college cafeteria served them sometimes and to me they just looked like grilled cheese sandwiches. I didn't get it.

Years later I saw them on a menu with a full description of what they were. I tried one and wondered what I had missed out on all of these years! I love them with maple syrup and a fruit salad, but I know a nice restaurant that will also serve them with mornay sauce.

I consider the Monte Cristo to be the king of sandwiches. In the very early 1970s I discovered it in, of all places, the Holiday Inn restaurant in Cleveland, Mississippi. It has always been hard to find. In the early 1980s I found them on the menu at a resort in the 1,000 Lakes area of New York. Lately, I discovered it on -- and ordered it from -- the menu at our local Chedders. Thanks for the background.

I first had a Monte Cristo when I was 9 years old at the Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island. My family went back there about every other year until I was 16, and I ALWAYS had the Monte Cristo! It is huge, and delicious. Particularly when eating it poolside exhausted from swimming. You have to try theirs! so good!

I am late in finding your blog, somehow, despite all the food blogs I follow-- it's fabulous-- but I couldn't help but stop to comment on this post. Seeing Dwight's name in the post title and his picture in your post made me grin ear-to-ear. Love that guy. And it's not often that I find other women in the blogosphere that have a soft spot for basketball. So, thanks for the happy moment!